Tarot Card Meanings And Understanding The Tower Tarot Card

The Tower Tarot card is the only card in the Major Arcana that refers to a total restructuring of one's belief system. The Tower brings disruption, instability, transformation and truth. With the Tower card, one can expect a total deconstruction of one's beliefs and thought patterns. The Tower often indicates that one’s faulty perceptions have caused the creation of an unstable foundation.

The corresponding number to The Tower is sixteen. In numerology, sixteen is reduced to seven, which represents authoritative power and positive action. However, in the case of the Tower card, seven refers to a unyielding force that collides with the blinded journeyman. He has lost sight of his true path and he has no choice but to look the choices that he has made in the past.

A positive element to the Tower Tarot card is freedom. The Tower card represents the ability to clear away the falsehoods that have blocked the seeker from the truth. In a Tarot reading, the Tower illuminates the parts of ourselves we do not want to see, the elements of self that we have been blind to. In the end, when we make the choice to peer into our misconceptions and discover the true reality of who we are, we can be completely freed.

In a Tarot reading, the Tower represents a shedding of the old. In its place comes another level of consciousness. This heightened awareness is a result of a new form of communication with the higher mind or divine spirit. The information we once received as part of our intuitive process has little consequence against the divine messages of the universe. We are at its mercy and must learn to trust its illuminating light and wisdom. The goal is to find faith in our new sense of connection with a higher consciousness and trust its positive intent and constructive messages.

When the Tower comes up in a Tarot spread, its Tarot card meanings suggest that one’s beliefs are outdated. As the mind matures, it becomes less flexible. The mind’s framework has become too set in its ways. Ultimately, new ideas and concepts become threatening to the original structure, and it gets increasingly difficult to adapt to new situations. The great vulnerability lies in the fact that reality and circumstances change. When one is faced with new ideas that challenge old constructs, there is the potential that one’s ability to organize new information ceases to function. There is a collapse of structure and one can lose his ability to cope effectively.

Upright Position- The Tower Tarot Card Meaning In A Tarot Reading

In its upright position, the Tower indicates that there may be a breakdown of a system or structure. Change will be unavoidable. This change may be shocking and powerful, so it may be in your best interest to surrender to its force. This is not something you can fight nor prevent. The Tower card often reveals a belief system that is no longer working for you. It is, perhaps, preventing you from seeing the truth.

The disruption of the Tower signifies that a new lesson must be learned. Your current value system does not reflect who you really are. You may have to let go of ineffective behavior patterns and realign yourself with what you truly value. This can be a period of chaos and uncertainty. However, what follows is transformative and necessary.

When the Tower card comes up in a Tarot reading, you may find yourself in the throws of sudden changes. The Tower can indicate a move, change of job or shift in an important relationship. On a more personal level, you may be forced to tackle issues of shame and guilt and face the consequences of your blinding denial. Now is the time to set yourself free from situations that have been holding you back.

Sudden or unexpected change

Deconstruction of belief system

Clearing away the old to make room for the new

A moment of clarity

A traumatic experience

New found freedom

Reversed Position- The Tower Tarot Card Meanings In A Tarot Reading

In a reversed position, the Tower card can signify the ending of a troubling situation. This may be a good time to start over. Your internal structures have collapsed and you are in the process of discovering who you really are. In a Tarot reading, the Tower reversed may represent the deconstruction of your own identity. You are not who you thought you were. Although this can be a painful process, it’s time to become the person you want to be through a journey of self-discovery.

On a more negative note, the Tower reversed can indicate some form of injustice in your life. You may feel trapped in a situation that you wish to be freed from, but are unsure how to proceed. You may be required to confront a situation that could have been avoided. In a love reading, the Tower reversed can indicate the shattering of a relationship. It may be too late to rectify the situation and you will, ultimately, have to let go. This is a good time to review your own behaviors.

Shock

The consequences of past behaviors

Confrontation with problems

A crisis

Separation and endings

Internal conflict

Feelings as though you are falling apart

Learn more about the meaning of the Tower and relationships in the Love Tarot section.